File box closure



Oct. 10, 1944. H. L. FELLOWES l 2,360,117

FILE BOX CLOSURE Filed Nov. 12, 1942 WMM'/ @y Patented Oct. 10, 1944 FILE BOX CLOURE Harry L. Fellowes, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Bankers Box Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 12, 1942, Serial No. 465,312

(el. 22e- 44) 4 Claims.

"My invention relates to a le box of the general type disclosed in my earlier Patents Nos. 1,574,737 and- 2,281,486.

Broadly speaking, it is the object of the present invention to provide a le box of the general type aforesaid with a top closure so constructed and arranged that (a) The lateral top flaps of the box (constituting essential elements of the closure) always tightly abut in edge-to-edge relationship, to prevent ingress of dust between them and effectively to brace the upper longitudinal corners of the box against collapse;

(b) Little or no metal need be employed. in the construction ofthe closure or its fastening devices; and

(c) The closure presents a single uninterrupted plane upper surface on which a superposed iile box may slide and rest.

A salient feature of my present le box closure is the functioning. of the two lateral top flaps in manner like the elements of a toggle when brought into angular edge-to-edge relationship and then moved into a common plane by'force applied (preferably through the closure fastening devices) to a lever of the second class in the form of a sheet of cardboard-such sheet of cardboard desirably corresponding with or approximating the size of the box top and being permanently applied to one of the lateral top flaps and projecting over and beyond its free longitudinal edge to overlie the other of the lateral top flaps.

In the accompanying single sheet of drawings illustrating my present invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view illustrating the lateral top aps of the box as they appear when brought into angular edge-to-edge relationship prior to being moved simultaneously, andin manner like the elements of a toggle, to occupy closed positions in a common plane;

Fig. 3 illustrates the several elements of the closure as they appear when fastened in their closed positions; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating a form of closure fastening which may be utilized instead of the tie strings or tapes of the preceding gures.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The le unit embodying my present invention comprises a paperboard box of the general type described in my hereinbefore mentioned earlier patents, i. e., a one piece paperboard box consisting of the following parts: end walls I0; side walls I I; lateral bottom flaps I2; end bottom flaps I3; tensile fabric strips I4 which are adhesively applied to the end bottom flaps I3 and the side walls II end top aps I5; and lateral top flaps I6 which are adapted to lie exterorly of the end top flaps I5.

Adhesively or'otherwise permanently applied to one of the lateral top flaps, and overlying and projecting beyond the free longitudinal edge of such lateral top flap, is a stiff cardboard sheet or plate I'I.

The cardboard stock of which the box is made is of such Ycharacter that the lateral top aps I6 also are quite stiff.

The lateral top aps are of such width that their longitudinal edges will contact, in a line `located 'a substantial distance above the top edges of the side and end walls of the box, when such lateral top flaps are in the angular relationship depicted in Fig. 2.

The le unit depicted in Fig. 1 comprises, as top closure fastening devices, the pair of tie strings or tapes I8 and their cooperating tie strings or tapes I9. The tie strings or tapes I8 are anchored in the free corners of the cardboard sheet or plate II, whereas the tie strings or tapes I9 similarly are anchored in the upper corners of one of the box side walls II. Reenforcing patches 2|] and fiber washers 2l may be adjuncts to the anchorage of the said tie strings or tapes.

The modification of Fig. 4 contemplates that each of the strings or tapes I8 will cooperate with a conventional tie string fastening button 22 which is riveted exterorly to the adjacent upper corner of one of the box end walls I0. In the modification of Fig. 4 I dispense with the strings or tapes I9.

Let us assume that the unit of Fig. 1 has been filled with documents for storage and that the several elements of the closure are to be moved to and fastened in their closed positions.

The end top flaps I5 are moved so as to lie within the box as depicted in Figs. 2 and 3. The lateral top flaps I6 and the cardboard plate I I are then placed in the positions depicted in Fig. 2. Force is then exerted, through the strings or tapes I8, to move the plate I'I, as a lever of the second class, to the position depicted in Fig. 3. When this occurs, the lateral top aps I6 are moved, togglewise, to closed positions, in a common horizontal plane, as depicted in Fig. 3. As the lateral top flaps are thus forced to their closed positions, the upper edges of the side walls Il are slightly, but definitely and noticeably, sprung apart, with two concomitant advantages. Firstly, the longitudinal edges of the lateral top flaps the buttons 22 (in the case. 0f,V thev l'e: box' oi' Fig. 4).

Other advantages of the herein described box closure are that the stiff plate |71l (a) holds theV ends of the lateral top flaps snugly against the upper edges of the box end walls I0; (b) affords an uninterrupted upper surface on whichr asuperposed le box may slide and'rest;"(c) acts to guide the lateralV top flap to which it isnot attached into abutting relation, as shown in Fig. 2, withthe lateral top ap to which such plate is attached; (d) acts to retain the lateral top ii'aps in the same horizontalplane when the closure elements are tied closed; and (e) affords the-box a top closure of two-ply strength.

VHaving thus illustrated and described my invention, what I'claim. aslnew and desire to secure by Letters-Patent ofthe United States, is:

1. In a closure for a box comprising side walls, endwallsand a bottom, a, pair of lateral top flaps associated with the upper edges of the side walls of the box, the widths of such aps: being such that their proximate longitudinal edges-will con tact in a line substantially above the upper edges of the box walls when said flaps are upwardly converging like the sides of a ridge-roof, andV a stiff plate overlying and attached` to one of said flaps and projecting beyond its free longitudinal edge to overlie the other flap, said plate serving to guide the.' proximate longitudinal edges ofthe Vflaps into Contact and constituting a means whereby the contacting flaps may be moved, in manner like the elements off a toggle, to closed positions in a commonvplane.

2. vIn a closure for a box comprising side walls, endwalls and a bottom, a pair of lateral' top naps associated with the upper edges of the side Walls of the box, the'widths of' such naps being such that their proximate longitudinal edges will Y the'plate.

contact in a line substantially above the upper edges of the box Walls when said flaps are upwardly converging like the sides of a ridge-roof,l a stii plate overlying and attached to one of said flaps and projecting beyond its free longitudinal edge to overlie the other ilap, said plate serving to guide the proximate longitudinal edges of the flaps into Contact and constituting a means whereby the contacting naps may be moved, in manner like the elements of a toggle, to closed positions in a common plane, and fastening devices, acting between the box and the free cornersof-l said plate, for holding the flaps and plate in .theirclosed positions. y

3f. In.a,closure for a box comprising side walls, end' walls anda. bottom, a pair of lateral top flaps associated with the upper edges of the side Walls of` thebox, thewidths of such flaps being such thattheir proximate longitudinal edges will contactl in a line substantially above the upper edges of" the: box walls whenv said. flaps are upwardly converginglike thev sidesL of. a: ridge-roof, and a.

stiff plate substantially completelyoverlyingand-y attached, to oner ofi said flaps and. projecting beyond' its freeYV longitudinal edge sufficiently substantially completelytofoverlie the other of: said;

aps, and fastening devices acting between@ the box andthe free corners of the plate, forholding the flaps: in a common plane parallel with and:`

immediately beneath said plate, c

In aclosure for a box comprising;V side Walls,

end'wa-lls and. abottom, apair'of lateral top flaps` formed integral with the upperedges of thesside.

Wallslof; the box; the Widths; of lsaid apsbeing fr such that their proximate longitudinaledges-Will, contact in a line substantially above the top edges tachedxto one ofsaid flaps andA projecting beyond Y its' freelongitudinal, edge substantiallyV complete,-

lytooverlie the other'lap, said plate servingitoY guide the proximate longitudinal edges of, the flaps into; contact: and constituting. a means i whereby the contacting aps may bemoved-in` manner likefthe` elements of a toggle, to'` closedl positions in acommonplane, and fastening devices, acting between the box and the free cornersof said plate, for; holding the aps in acommon plane parallel with and immediately beneath HARRY LQFELLoWEs. 

